Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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STOP GERMAN ATTACK. MVN? RKPUUSKI) WITH LOSSES BY AMKRICANS. Hons Forced to Retire Without Tuk lac Prisoner From L'nitcd States TVcDchro. With the American Army In France. Fab. 28.?(By the Associated Press). ?A strong German attack following a heavy barrage fire against the Ameri? can trenchea In the Chemln des Damea sector waa repulsed with loss? es to the attackers. The well platte1 American machine guns sent streams of bulleta Into the advancing enemy and aa the German barrage tiro lift? ed the American artillery quickly laid down a curtain of Are, the German retiring without a single prisoner. There were no American casualties. Five French eoldiera were wounded during the fighting. The Americana stayed In their dug? out until the proper time when they Jumped to the guns and fought like veterans. Teeterday one officer and one man were killed and two were wounded by miemy shell fire. One American sol? dier waa "gassed." The Germans made a gaa attack also In this sector, tiring GO projectiles of high per cent, ga* and SO high explosive shells. One American soldier is dead and tight are suffering from the effects of poisonous gaa, so far as reported, but t hi probable that morn casualties will develop In the Toul sector. There was an attack Monday, hut the number of casualties to the Amer? ican troops In this sector since thev became engaged can not be determin? ed. All the killed and wounded In theee operations are from the New England States. CONSVL LUFT PrTTROGRAD. HmerUwn Representative Turns Over OoVc to Norwegian Consul. / Stockholm Thursday, Feb. 28.? The American consul has left Petro? grad, where he remained after the ?mbmasleo' departure, according to in? formation reaching the American le? gation here. The consulate was taken oVSr by the Norwegian consul. This bars report seems to indicate that the situation In the Russian capital has taken a turn for the worse. NfcWS FROM OUR AMBASSADOR Mr Francis and Staff Left Petrograd Wednesday Night. Washington. March 1.?The com? mittee of public Information toda. announced the official reception of advices from Ita representative in Pet? rograd that Ambassador Francis, his staff .the American consulate, the military mission and Red Cross rep? resentatives all left Petrograd for Vologda on the night of February 27. MS WAIN ASSUMES OFFICE. State of South Carolina Now Has Igt Second Insurance Commissioner. Columbia. Feb. 28.?Fltzhugh Mc Master, for ten years insurance com? missioner of South Carolina, resign? ed his office today .eight days prior to the expiration of his term. The resignation wna accepted by Governoi Manning, who. bis afternoon, com missioned W. A. McSwaln. of New berry, Mr. McMaster's successor, elect? ed at the last session of the general assembly Mr. McSwaln took the oath of office today, tiled his bond and will enter upon his duties tomorrow morn? ing. Mr. McMsater organized and has developed the Insurance department of South Carolina. When it was es? tablished ,ln March. 1908, there was no supervision of any sort over do? mestic Insurance companies in South Carolina. Companies of other States or countries werft required to pay to the comptroller general license fOi but this officer had llttlo or no super? vision over th#m, and none over do? mestic companies. At the present time IhOTS are licens? ed in the State 215 life, fir.- SSM mis cellsneous insurance companies of other States, fifty-seven Insurance companies of South Carolina, nf teen fraternal orders with loaduuar tero elsewhere, ami six fraternal or dere with headquarters in lootn Cat ollna, a total of Nl sesnpaafc GCRMANH RKSl'MK Aid \\< I Conquest of Russia Is Not Vet Com plctcd. 1 Dodon. March 1.?Dispatches re celvsd by the Exchange ShleglOhh company, filed In Petrograd at mix o'clock Thursday evening PadtOOtS that the Oerman advance into l: a hae been resumed. Washington. March 1.?Ten rail? roads operating In the cotton States asked the Interstate commission tod I] to fix a rate of two cents per bund red pounds for services rendered at In? termediate points In connection ui'h concentrating, compressing and pa* stopping cotton MOVE ON SIBERIA. JAPAN WOULD JOIN IN CONCERT? ED ACTION. Military Supplies in Quantity at Vladi? vostok Mny Full Into Enemy Hands. Washington, Feb. 27.?Japan has directed inquiries to the entente pow? ers and the United States government to test their feelings toward a pro? posal to institute Joint military oper? ations in Siberia to save the vast quan? tities of war supplies stored at Vladi? vostok and along the Siberian railroad. Criticism at homo of the failure of Japan to play a larger part in the war is said to havo been influential in bringing about the negotiations. Officials here refuse to discuss this subject for publication but it is under? stood that so far as America is con? cerned the proposition when first broached was wholly acceptable, though the exchanges on tho subject which still are In progress may mod? ify tho government's attitude. Accumulated at Vladivostok are military supplies of all kinds, much of American manufacture, and even greater quantities of Japanese origin, delivered long before the Bolshevikl took possession of the Russian gov? ernment The Stevens commission of American engineers made extraordi? nary efforts to improve the facilities of tho Siberian railroad so that these stores could be transported to tho Rus? sian army and much of the accumula? tion was romoved. Tho great quanti? ties remaining, however, suffer seri iously from deterioration due to ex? posure to the weather and other caus? es. The chief concern of the allies, however, is the danger that the stores shall fall into the hands of the Ger? mans, who may make their delivery one of the conditions of any peace treaty which they are about to com? pel the Bolshevikl to sign. This situation is regarded by the Japanese as warranting- some mea? sures to secure these stores, even if this involves military action on their part. They are quite wiling to have the cooperation of the entente force and of American troops and sailors, and the problem now before the cof belligerent chancellors is whether Ja? pan shall be allowed to proceed single handed if action in this quarter is be? gun, or whether there shall be joint operations. Looking to the future, it has been argued that there should be a combination movement to avoid any such qt. esion as to the ultimate dis? position of occupied territory in Si? beria as might follow the exclusive entry of any one country. From the tone of the discussion of this subject in official Washington it appears that while the entente gov? ernments incline favorably to a joint campaign with Japan In Siberia, thev are faced with the obstacle that prac? tically none of them have any troops or ships available. This statement does not apply however, to America which has some powerful cruisers with large crews and marine contin? gents In Asiatic waters, and about 107 000 troops in the Philippines. The Russian representatives in Washington strongly disapprove of any campaign In Siberia conducted un? der Japanese auspices. BACK FROM FRANCE. Mit j. Ocn. March Returns to Act as Chlor of Staff. Atlan Ic Pert, Marc h 1.?Major QeneraJ Peyton March, acting chief of staff of the United States army, ar? rived here today, after nine months abroad, as chief of artillery of the A merles n ex pod I tlofiary forces. If. de earthed the American troop.s to be so well trained as to be able to handle themselves "with credit to the United States." Ho described the esnooeohlp as "lamentable" and inti? mated that he would advocate that regulations in this respect bo made less stringent. JAPAN CENTER OF INTEREST. London Papers Feature Siberian Pro ponal as Chief War News. London, March 1.?Japan's pro? posal with regard to Siberia and their root ption in Washington, brought the OjOOOtiOn of Japan's active participa? tion in military operations to the fore? front here, these developments domi? nating tie news columns of the pa - peis The bulk of opinion favora Japan's, proposed action without qualification, The plea is made in sem< nu. i t. is that she ought to be Implicitly tmeted and should be giv? en ? fres hand. RETi PJIH to PETROGRAD. Peoples* Ceensefl llnJts in Flight Pr?m < tesmaas London. Maroh i. The Russian council of the Peoples' Commlssion ers has doolded to return t.. Petrograd says an official RUSOOW statement re? ceived here today. The remOVOl of elements of the population voloelees In the defense of the OOpltOl is continued, however. JAPAN'S GREAT CHANGE. BREAK DP OF RUSSIA GIVES OP? PORTUNITY TO OCCUPY SI? BERIA. Necessities of War May Force Kntente Allies to Cooperate With Japan in Seizure of Russian Territory. Washington, Feb. 28.?An early de? cision probably will be reached on the momentous question as to wheth? er America and the entente allies shall join Japan in a campaign in Eastern Siberia to counteract pro-German ac? tivities In that quarter and save the great supply of military stores ac cumulated at Vladivostok and interior points on the Siberian railroad. It had been understood that this decision might await the arrival in Washington of Viscount Ishii, the I newly appointed Japanese ambassador] to the United States, but it was said tonight recent developments, includ? ing increasing pressure from entente sources, very likely will cause a more speedy determination of the question. It is learned that this is not regarded as a problem for the consideration at the present stage at least of the su? preme war council in France, which if it treats the subject at all, wdll deal with it only as a military matter. The question of policy has been decided by the governments of the entente allies and America. It is freely admitted in official cir? cles that this is a very grave question indeed. A radical departure from established rules of international law would be involved in the forcible en? try into a neutral country, and con? sideration must be given to the effect upon the Russian people of such n course in their relations to the pres? ent war. Already there has been some apprehension that great num? bers of Russian soldiers rather that, return to their farms and shops would voluntarily join the central armies, and some evidence of a foun? dation for this fear is found in Berlin dispatches announcing the entry into the German army of several regi? ments of ICsthonians. On the other hand growing indica? tions that Japan can not much long? er be restrained from taking some ac? tion in Siberia are causing serious con? sideration of the Japanese invita? tion to the entente allies and Americ i to participate. The alternative would be to let Japan undertake singlehan I ed the weight of the campaign in Si? beria. It is learned that the issue is ap? proaching the critical point in the opinion of the Japanese government which has concluded that some such action as it proposes to take in Si? beria is imperative as a defensive measure against German aggression and control of the wreck of the Into government machinery in Siberia. Such Information as officials have been able to gather indicate that most of the larger cities and towns In the interior and along the line ot. trie Siberian railroad are under the con? trol of the Rolsheviki. 111 that coun? try this element is largely composed of exiles and descendants of exiles from European Russia who are filled with hatred Of monarchical institu? tions and Imbued with anarchistic views and may be counted as radical supporters of the Bolshevlkl govern? ment, Their numbers are not known but they are the dominating force in a considerable portion of Siberia. Conditions in Vladivostok are con? fused. There arc a number of Hol shevikl in the town but this after all is under control for the present of ft local zemstvo which has paid very lit? tle attention to orders issuing from Petrograd, and the conservative forces are greatly stlengthened by the pres? ence in the harbor of two Japanese cruisers. Washington, March f.?-The presl dent will be empowered to comman? deer timber or lumber needed for tin army, navy and Shipping board, un? der a bill ordered favorably reported today by the senate military commit? tee. Washington, March 1.?Five mon bodies Of men lost in the foundering Dt the navy tug, Cherokee, have beet, picked up, and sent to the hospital at Cape May, New Jersey. Two of the bodies have not yet been Identified. Washington. March i.?Director General McAdoO has decided that con? federate" veterans will have special rates and no interference in transpor? tation for their reunion at Tuisa, Okla? homa, Toledo, March 'J.? Four bandits in B high powe red automobile held up and robbed the paymaster of the Doehler Die Castings Co., of $8,900 in cash today near the factory in the western outskirts of the city. The guard sceompaylng the pay m?stet WOjS shot. The bandits escaped. More than 4 1.000,000 acres of coat lands In the fourteen States of the United States are to h?? opened in 191*. SPANISH CABINET RESIGNS. MINISTRY DIVIDED ON QUES-! TION OF POLICY. Public Opinion Expresses Itself Striurgly Against back of Action Against Germany. .Madrid, Feb. 28.?The cabinet re? signed today. The retirement of the government was expected in view of tho outcome of the general elections on Sunday. Furthermore, the minis? try was divided on the question of the policy to he pursued toward Germany in consequence of the recent torpedo? ing of several Spanish steamships. Public opinion is expressing itself strongly against the lack of energetic action by the government in the face of Germany's disregard of her engage? ments concern.n? the Immunity of Spanish steamship'S, under the condi? tions specified, from submarine attack. The government was urged by va? rious newspapers to take an attitude of benevolency toward the allies, while preserving officially the neutral? ity of the country. It was suggested that Spanish laborers might be per? mitted to go to France and that free j access might be given to American buyers, so as to effect a saving In tonnage. The resignation of the cabinet wa> hastened by tho withdrawal hist night of Benor Ventosa, minister of finance, and Benor Itodcz, minister of public instruction, owing to the divergence of their views upon constitutional re? forms from those held by their col? leagues. The premier then presented a collective resignation. The king requested the premier Marquis de Alpucemas (Garcia Prie to), immediately to form a new minis? try, iq which many of the former ministers will be included. Alpuce? mas will have the support of Count Romanocs, the former premier. In the elections that largest num? ber of seats in parliament were won by the Liberal Democrats, with 93; Conservatives of the Dato group, 86. Romanonoei Liberals, 36; Republi? cans, 33. Marquis de Alpucemas, the retiring premier, was called upon to form a cabinet in April of last year. The cabinet resigned In June and he form? ed another, announcing a policy of ab? solute neutrality. Good Roads Meeting. The perplexing and very vital road question is again before our eyes. Only now it is in a more business? like form. / To get good roads?everybody is in favor?we all want good roads, and there are no negatives to this issue. To build good roads is another prob? lem?it can not be done by resolu? tions, conventions or good road talk To build good roads requires action money and knowledge, and to obtain these things there must be Arm co? operation, organized cooperation. ?With this object in view, the Sum? ter Auto and Good Roads Associa? tion is coming into existence, which if affiliated with the South Carolin State Association and the Americai and National Associations?all work' ling together for the improvements in our roads and road building system Sumter has always been in the lean In everything of an advanced, pro? gressive and beneficial movement Will Sumter show the same spirit in pioneering tho good road movement In South Carolins ? The nucleus Of an organization Is already hero with some ion members enrolled; one thousand members will lead the State, live hundred more will assure Sumter good roads in the fu? ture. Sumter has the best paved streets of any city of its size in the State, and we are proud of it. We would not take double the money We paid for it. Sumter will be in the same position with reference to good roads, if we put our shoulders together for good roads. Everyone owning an automobile, 8 string of teams to haul his farm pro? ducts, or single horse rig should put his shoulders under the good roads and lift out the mud and mire they are in now. There will be a meeting at the Court House Monday, the Ith, at 8.30 P. M. and all who are Interested in good roads and the realization of its certainty should attend. I am so enthusiastic about this movement that | am putting forth .?very effort In my power to see it to i successful accomplishment, and hence this unofficial ami personal in? vitation to everyone in Sumter coun? ty to be present at the Court House Monday evening at S..'P?. S. L. Krasnoff, Important Internal Revenue Holing. Washington, March I, Business men who are paying sal.nies to em? ployes who have entered the army or navy or are serving the government at nominal pay, may deduct the amount in figuring income or excess profit tax, the infernal revenue bureau' mied today. i THE RAILROAD BILL HOUSE FINALLY PASSES CONTROL BILL. Administration Measure, Already 1'assctt by Senate, Now <;<>e* to Conference With Leaden HopefaJ of Speedy Argecmcnt?l ew Differ? ences. Washington, Feb. 28.?The bill to govern federal operation of railroads was passed by the house tonight by a vote of 337 to 6. Two Democrats and four Republi? cans voted against the measure when the linal test came. They were: Thomas, Kentucky, and Gordone, Ohio, Democrats; Chandler, Oklaho? ma; Dcnison, Illinois; Hausen, Iowa, and Ramsey, Florida, Republicans. The house at night reversed its ac? tion earlier in the day and voted 211 lo 165 to leave the rate making pow? er in the president's hands. The house also reversed itself on the provision limiting government operation after the war, and by a vote of HOG to 166, restored the two >ear limit. The senate previously h id passed the bill, which now goes to conference for settlement of differences. The house bill provides for the return of the roads to their owners two years after the war ends instead of in is months, as the senate draft proposes, and the house measure vests final rate fixing authority in the president, while the senate would leave this power in the interstate commerce commission. These two sections of the bill caus? ed spirited tights in the house today. I Opponents of these features won momentary victories when the bill was discussed in committee of the whole, but on final vote proponents massed their forces, mostly on the Democratic side and succeeded in putting the bill with these features intact, as framed by the committee. An amendment by Representative Sweet of Iowa, giving the rate mak? ing power to the interstate commerce commission, was adopted in committee of the whole, 164 to 157. This showed almost the full strength for the amendment as when the vote was taken on final passage it wan defeated 165 to 211. In the committee of the whole an amendment by Representative Esch (Wie.), to limit tenure after the war to one year was adopted 133 to 40, but like the Sweet amendment it was thrown out 206 to 166. Both senate and house leaders be? lieve the conferees will be abie to reach a speedy agreement on the dis? puted section. Administration officials have urged prompt action on this and ihe war corporation bill, so the way may be cleared for the third liberty loan. The senate bill definitely provides that the basis of compensation shall be a just return on the average net income for three years ending June 30, 1917, but the house bill is a little more elastic. The house adopted an amendment which would give the president discretionary povoi to take into consideration money sj cut for Improvements by the roads between June SO and December 2S, iai7, the day they were taken over. The sen? ate defeated an amendment requiring that such expenditure should be in? cluded. Many bouse members view their amendment as s compromise and think it will be adopted by the (onferees. SMOKING OUT TRAITORS. Movement to Revoke Charter of Ger? man* American Alliance. Washington. March 2.?Hearings on Senator King's resolution providing for revoking the charter of the Inter? national German-American Alliance or) the ground that it is an unpatriotic organisation, was resumed today be? fore the senate judiciary sub-com? mittee. The Witnesses summoned in? cluded officers of the organisation, former Representative Bartholdt, of St. Louis, and Federal District Attor? ney E. L, Humes, ot Pittsburgh STEAMSHIP TIBERIA SUBMARIN? ED. Was hound for New York?Cecil All Saved. New Yoik, March I.?-The Iritish merchant steamship Tiberia, of forty eight hundred and eighty tons, owned by the Anchor line, was submarined about February l'7, while bound for this port, according <<? Information received here today. The crew was saved. PACKERS WAGE DISPUTE. Employes Demand Eight Hour Day ami Equal Pay for Women Chicago, March 2.?Counsel for i the packers In the arbitration hearing Of the dispute with employees an? nounced that they would dose the case today, preparatory to the final argu? ments in rebuttal. The workers want an eight hour day and equal pi y for women doing the same work as men. BARNWELL LYNGHERS ARRESTED LYNCHING CHARGE PREFERRED AGAIKSI KVENTEEW. Rilling of Walter Best in Harnwell Laid to Prominent I armors and Business Men. Barnwell, Ifareh 1.?Seventeen white men were arrested In Barawell county yesterday and brought to Co lumbia and placed under heavy bonds foi alleged participation in the lynch? ing of Walter Best, a negro, near Fairfax, last Saturday afternoon, who earlier In the day shot William Wil? son, a young white man, to death. Five of the defendants were placed under bonds to the amount of $7,500 each, and the 12 remaining defendants at $5,000 each. Those whose bail was fixed at $7.5'*0 each were: C. H. San? ders, John Dunbar, <>. B. Lynes, E. G. Connelly am Oscar Carlton. The 12 who will be asked to provide bail for $5,000 each were: J. R. Blount, W. B. Sanders, G. A. Sanders, B. B. Beat. S W. Dominick, Leo Todd, Lawrence Harter, Grady Harter. H. H. Young, Simi is O'Neal, George Hogg and Frank Farter. The warrants were sworn out by Sheriff J. B. Morris before E. W. Holman, magistrate, "on information and belief" as to the participation by the 17 defe ndants in . the killing of IJcst. The hearing yesterday was held be? fore Judge V. H. Townsend. The de? fendants wee represented by J. Emile Harle;' and Edgar A. Brown, both of the Hamwell bar. The State was represented by Thomas H. Peo? ples, attorney general. Walter Best was shot to death late last Saturday afternoon at Duck Branch Bridge, one and one-half miles out of Fairfax, in Barnwell county, the negro earlier in the after? noon having shot to death William Wilson, a young white man, at a blacksmith si op in Fairfax. An affidavit was submitted at the hearing yest >rday from Dr. J. G. YVooley, who made the ante-mortem examination. The physician's state? ment was that the negro had 15 wounds in his body from "BB" shot; lour or five from 32 caliber bullets; four or five from 3S calibre bullets, and two made by projectiles of larger calibre. Eight or nine of the defendants, recognized by the sheriff when the ne? gro was dragged out of the officer's machine, were designated by him as going "into the swamp" where the shooting occurred a few minutes later. The sheriff also recognized others, who did not participate in the scuf? fle to get. the negro away to the swamp. The sheriff also said "one or two of the men on the bridge told me that > they were doing me wrong; that they should have done this before I came." J. F. Grubbs and J. B. Ross, deru ' ties, corroborated the sheriff's state ' ment and Grubbs made affidavit that he knew the man who pulled the ne ' grc out of the car. "His name was C. H. Sanders." Solicitor Cunter of the Second Cir 1 cult is conducting other investigation and Governor Manning has also as? sured that his ollice will not be indif? ferent In ettemtping to have tho guilty patties apprehended. Infor? mation deduce 1 at the hearing yes? terday was that Other arrests are like? ly to follow and the solicitor has promised that prosecution will bo pressed in all cases. SI NK BY SUBMARINE. No Doubt as 10 Destruction of Hos? pital Ship. London, March 1.?Sworn state? ments made independently by two survivors of the British hospital ship Glenarf Castle which was sunk Tues? day in the Bristol Channel, official an nouncementS say, make it clear that she was sunk bv an enemy submarine, which was sighted in hailing distance within ten minutes after the ship was sunk. London, Priady March 1.?Reuters, Limited, has issued a statement from an authoritative Japanese source in London which declares that Japan has made no proposal, military or otherwise, on the Russin situation, but addressed inquiries to the allied governments asking for an expression <d' their views on the latest develop? ments. The statement said there was never any question of agg ra ndizemen t In the mind of Japan. Washington, March I.. A favorable report to the senate was ordered to? day by the committee on tlu bill pro? viding for prohibition in Hawaii dur? ing the war with a referendum vote within a year alter peace is declared to determine whether the law should hi permanent. Berlin, March I,?German troop* continuing their advance in Russia, have reached the Dnieper river, it is officially announced. Ansrro-Huagar* lan troops have begun an advance into Ultra! net